Document Type
Editorial
Publication Date
7-15-2015
Abstract
While agreeing that sentences for nonviolent drug offenses are too long, this Wall Street Journal op-ed piece argues that the large-scale clemency program planned by President Obama is misguided. It sets a dangerous precedent for using the clemency power beyond its traditional and intended purpose of providing a last-resort check on fairness and justice errors in individual cases, and instead uses the power to set sentencing policy. While many people will like the results of the current program, they will be less than happy when some future president uses it as precedent to promote a sentencing policy of which they disapprove.
Keywords
Executive clemency, clemency criteria, nonviolent offenses, lengthy sentences, commutation, commutations, separation of powers, sentencing legislation, sentencing policy
Publication Title
Wall Street Journal
Repository Citation
Robinson, Paul H., "Obama's Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Decree" (2015). All Faculty Scholarship. 1568.
https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/faculty_scholarship/1568
Included in
American Politics Commons, Criminal Procedure Commons, Law and Politics Commons, Law and Race Commons, Law and Society Commons, Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation Commons, President/Executive Department Commons, Public Law and Legal Theory Commons, Public Policy Commons, Social Policy Commons
Publication Citation
Wall St. J., July 15, 2015, at A19.